About the Festival:
Rivkah French Choreography presents a dynamic and thought-provoking weekend of dance performances and workshops, with the central theme of post-pandemic recovery and our shared liberation.
The weekend features a series of dance performances by renowned Houston-based artists – each expressing their unique interpretation of post-pandemic life and freedom through various dance styles – including contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, and more. Enjoy free public workshops led by professional dancers and instructors, catering to multiple skill levels and interests.
Featuring dance by:
Urban Souls (Modern dance)
Garage 713 (Hip Hop)
Jacob Regan and Jen Passios (Contemporary dance)
Uptown Dance Company (Ballet)
Rivkah French Choreography (Contemporary dance)
and
Pre-performance Community Workshops
Post-performance Artist Talkback
These events require reservations – register and secure your tickets here.
Event link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1014811748257?aff=oddtdtcreator
Detailed Workshop Descriptions:
Saturday November 2: 5:30-6:30 pm
Free Contemporary Workshop with Jacob Regan and Jen Passios
We Start From Here is a movement workshop focused on accumulation, memory, and impulse. Through a series of generative tasks, beginning with improvisation for the solo body and moving into work with others, the class aims to situate participants in a variety of circumstances from which choreography can emerge. We will work on developing the transitional moments between ideation and set movement with the goal of helping participants create their own relational dance experiences. This session is geared toward anyone who is willing to let their imagination get the better of them. People with all levels of movement experience welcome.
Sunday November 3: 1:00-2:00 pm
Free Beginner Hip Hop Workshop with Garage 713
This beginner-friendly workshop will offer participants a vibrant fusion of choreography, freestyle, and creative expression. Beyond the technical aspects of dance, our goal is to instill a deep love for the art form in our students. Through our programs, we create opportunities for self-expression, build confidence, and foster a supportive community. Whether you’re an emerging dancer or a seasoned performer, Garage 713 will enable your passion to meet your purpose. Together, we make Houston a thriving stage for all forms of artistic expression.
Detailed Performance Descriptions:
Shadow Work, presented by Urban Souls, is a compelling dance piece that explores the concept of our shadow selves—the hidden aspects of our identities. Through intricate choreography and emotive music, the dancers move through a subconscious landscape where power meets vulnerability. The work draws the audience into a journey of self-exploration, where the performers confront and accept parts of themselves often suppressed by societal norms.
Jacob Regan and Jen Passios will present Apply Pressure and Wait (2024) “Apply Pressure and Wait” serves as the sequel to “Ready/Set” (2024), a cumulative performance structure that toes the line between movement improvisation and choreography in service of developing a live performance work in real time. Part retrospective, part collage, and part editing project, “Apply Pressure and Wait” takes our favorite moments from previous rehearsals and performances of “Ready/Set” and reorganizes those greatest hits into a dance that, frankly, we just like doing together.
Ces’t La Vie, a new work by Uptown Dance Company’s founder and artistic director Beth Gulledge-Brown inspired by her trip to France, the piece is about friendships, love and life.
Garage 713 will deliver a captivating portrayal of endurance, transformation, and unity. Through intricate choreography and deeply expressive movements, the audience will be taken on a journey that explores the emotional depth of the human experience.
Audiences can expect an emotional and visually dynamic performance, where every movement captures the spirit of transformation and renewal. This performance will leave you inspired by the journey from struggle to victory, highlighting the power of connection and persistence.
Rivkah French Choreography presents Unbound, a movement-based exploration – and celebration – of queer and trans experience. Expect the unexpected!
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Limitless Dance Festival is made possible by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Dance Source Houston’s Groundwork grant program, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Events, and The Texas Commission for the Arts.
ABOUT RIVKAH FRENCH CHOREOGRAPHY:
Rivkah French is an award-winning queer contemporary choreographer and community leader based in Houston, Texas. French embodies freedom in movement by breaking dance, gender and societal norms–merging multiple dance styles, powerful themes, and innovative technologies.
Throughout their 25 year career, French has created 37 full-length dance multimedia performances, founded the non-profit FrenetiCore Dance, built the organization’s black box theater, founded the Houston Fringe Festival, and taught movement to at-risk populations including homeless and incarcerated teens.
Rivkah is currently focused on providing creatively empowering experiences for the LGBTQ+ community, expanding the field of Queer Dance Theory, and building new movement techniques fusing global dance styles with contemporary Western dance. French’s career exemplifies their belief in the profound power of art on individuals and society at large.
“Rivkah brings their passionate spirit to a razor’s edge, then gently leans in…”
–Cressandra Thibodeaux, 14 Pews
Website: rivkahfrenchchoreography.carrd.co
Social Media: @rivkahfrenchchoreography